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Instant Reaction: Oilers eliminate Kings in Game 5, advance to second round
Edmonton Oilers Los Angeles Kings
Photo credit: Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports
Ryley Delaney
May 2, 2024, 01:09 EDTUpdated: May 2, 2024, 02:57 EDT
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Na na na na, na na na na, hey hey-ey, goodbye, Los Angeles Kings.
On Wednesday evening, the Edmonton Oilers defeated the Los Angeles Kings 4-3, winning the series four games to one.
The Oilers scored the first goal for the fourth time in the series, as Evander Kane’s backhand squeaked through David Rittich and found the back of the net partway through the first. There’s nothing better than Playoff Kane, and Playoff “Brett” Kulak picked up an assist.
However, the game was tied heading into the first intermission as the puck took an awful bounce off the stanchion when Stuart Skinner went out to play it behind the net, with the puck redirecting out front to Alex Laferriere for the easiest goal he’ll ever score.
The Kings took the lead in the second period, as a poor line change led to a perfect scoring opportunity for Blake Lizotte, who made no mistake beating Stuart Skinner under the armpit.
Then the Oilers took over because of course they did. On their second power play of the game, it appeared that David Rittich robbed Leon Draisaitl from his office, but upon review, the puck crossed the line inside Rittich’s glove.
Don’t believe me? Here’s definitive proof from the panel during the intermission. Still, it was a great save, and goaltenders should really switch to black trappers.
The refs didn’t have a great game, as there were several questionable calls, such as a Corey Perry “trip” (he lost an edge), an embellishment call, and a “hold” on Pierre-Luc Dubois.
While the Oilers didn’t cash in on the power play, they scored their third goal shortly after the Dubois penalty ended. Leon Draisaitl scored his second of the game, creeping into the slot and beating Rittich for his second of the game.
Edmonton’s fourth goal of the game came at the end of the power play again, as Evan Bouchard shot the puck, deflecting off Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, before Zach Hyman tapped it in for his seventh goal of the series.
The Kings made all of Oilers Country nervous with a goal to make it 4-3, but that’s all they’d get.
Things worth mentioning…
Connor McDavid scored just one goal, but he had 11 assists this series, the second time he’s accomplished such a feat. The first time was in the 2022 series against the Kings. Moreover, only one other player has done this, four times in fact, take a guess who.
The power play was insane, scoring nine goals in 20 attempts. This doesn’t count the two goals coming just after the power play ended in tonight’s game. Don’t forget the Kings were the second-best penalty-killing team this season, posting a 84.6 successful kill percentage.
There was just one team that didn’t score a power play goal in the first round, of course it was Los Angeles, who went 0/12 in their attempts. Not only did the Oilers bully the Kings with their power play, they also dominated them with their penalty kill.
It’s undetermined who the Oilers will face in the second round as of right now. The Vancouver Canucks have a 3-2 series lead, but man, their goaltending may let them down in the long run. Either way, Oilers in five.
If you enjoy my content, you can follow me on Twitter @Ryley_L_D.

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